Hi there, I have installed windows '98 on a new computer that was recently built. It was working fine until recently when it decided not to detect the mouse and keyboard. Both mouse and keyboard are in their right connectors but it cannot be detected. This problem started when the computer was opened because the cd-rom drive could not be found. could you please advise me. Much appreciated. Thanks

First question: are they not detected in Windows or not detected during startup >> Seems like a motherboard problem. What you can do it to clear the cmos and force the bios to detect the keyboard and mouse again.

I ran into this problem recently when adding a Linksys network kit. The NIC cards were causing all kinds of keyboard and mouse problems. I replaced the Linksys NICs with high-end 3Com cards and have not had any problems since. Furthermore, Wim is partially correct... if your BIOS is having problems detecting, then it's a good bet you have a bad keyboard/mouse connector housing; not the entire mobo. Find someone to do some continuity checks on the housing. Good luck.

J, 1)Wim and Joe are wrong. the initial step is to open it back up and examin you cables . some sytems have a cables leading from the keyoard and mouse connection to the mother board it may have been lossend or disconected in mistake . make sure the powers off while you do this exam and hold part of the cumputer chassi frame if you have to connect or push any cables back into place .the cables are marked with white or red stripes meaning number 1 PIN . the mother board has on it of KEY and MOUSE ,where mouse and key are writen meaning the number 1 PIN. you may need a flash light . 2)if everything checks and system will boot past bios the problem is windows conflicts and may need to flash bios drivers.try disconedting the cd rom again or disable threw Bios .restart and download your recent drivers 2) if it wont see key or mouse past bios or windows then you may need to up date bios by flashing it. ther is also a setting in bios that will let you skip all errors on initial boot . the trick is getting to bios when it detecs no keyboard. 3)My best advice is if you have the warrenty take it back and act stupid !the least i would do is if the system had cables, replace them .anything beyond that will cost you money . buying a usb keyboard to get into bios if you support USB. an extra card for mouse and Keyboard .even a new bios chip? and if connections are soldered to the board even wrose you may have blown both ports buy accidentaly disconecting while power was on.either case take it back and good luck . felix